German Ambassador

Ambassador Dr. Klaus Scharioth served as German Ambassador to the United States from 2006-2011. He studied law in Bonn, Geneva and Freiburg, as well as international relations, international law, international finance and economics at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Harvard Law School and the John F. Kennedy School of Government and holds M.A., M.A.L.D. and Ph.D. degrees in addition to the German Law Degree. In 1976 he joined the German Foreign Service.

Since then he has held posts around the world, including Quito, Ecuador, the Permanent Mission of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Nations in New York, Chef de Cabinet (director of the private office) to the NATO Secretaries General Wörner, Claes and Solana; but also in Germany as Head of the German Foreign Minister's staff and as Head of the North America and Security Policy Directorate. From 1999 to 2002 he headed the Political Directorate-General and was Political Director of the German Foreign Office. From 2002 until March 2006 Dr. Scharioth served as State Secretary, the highest civil service post in the German Foreign Office.

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